Melodeon



T. P. THORNTON.

MBLODEON.

No. 16,760. Patented Mar. 3. 1857.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFTOE.

THOMAS F. THORNTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MELODEON.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 16,760, dated March 8, 1857.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS FOSTER THORNTON, of Bufialo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Melodeons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompany ing drawing, forming part of this specification, said drawing representing a vertical section of the playing parts of a melodeon illustrating my invention.

This invention relates to melodeons having two banks of keys and two sets of valves.

It consists in certain mechanism by which the two sets of valves are coupled at pleasure to be played by one bank of keys.

My improvement consists in the combination of an extra adjustable lever with each of the push down pins of the upper series of keys.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A, is the key frame of the instrument.

B, and B are two valves, one belonging to each of the two sets, each being represented as operating in connection with two reeds g, g, the instrument having four sets of reeds. The valves are all arranged under the same tube board and open down- Ward.

C, is one of the keys of the lower bank, and O one of those of the upper bank. The key 0, works on a fulcrum at a, and is made to open the valve B, by means of a push down pin 5, in the same manner as the keys of those melodeons which only have one set of keys and one set of valves, but it is extended back beyond its fulcrum a, as shown at 0*.

C is one of the keys of the upper bank arranged to work upon a fulcrum a, and being, like 0, extended back some distance in rear of its fulcrum as indicated at (1 D, is one of a series of levers of the first order, arranged to work on a stationary fulcrum (Z, in rear of the key C having its front end resting on the extended portion 0 of the upper key and its rear end resting on a push down pin Z), which rests on the valve B and is caused to open it by the act of depressing the playing end of the key G which raises the front end of the lever and depresses the rear end.

E, is one of a series of levers similar to D and arranged relatively to the key C, as D, is to C and in the same relation to the push down pin 5, but instead of working on a fixed fulcrum it works on a fulcrum pin 6, which connects it with a bar E, which is capable of being lowered or raised at pleasure to bring the front end of the lever within the range of the extended rear portion C of the lower key 0. This bar F, extends the whole length of the instrument, to carry a lever for each one of the keys C and has its ends fitted to upright guides in the ends of the framing thereof. It rests upon two or more eccentrics G (only one of which is visible in the drawing) which are secured upon a shaft H, that works in bearings at the end of the framing, and it is always held down in contact with the eccentrics, by means of one or more springs f, placed above it. The shaft G, has attached to one end a short lever arm h, shown in dotted outline, which has attached to it a horizontal rod 6 furnished with a knob j, standing out in front of the instrument near one end. By pulling out the knob j the shaft is turned to move the eccentrics downward and by that means the bar F is allowed to descend and bring the levers E, within range of the keys O, as shown in black outline in the drawing, thus coupling the two sets of valves to be actuated by the one set of keys C. By pushing in the knob j, the shaft is turned to move the eccentrics upward and by that means to raise the bar F high enough to take the levers F, out of range of the keys C, thus uncoupling the two sets of valves and leaving each set to be played only by its particular set of keys. It may be here observed that the coupling of the two sets of valves with the key 0, does not prevent the valves B being played independently by the keys C In order to enable the playing mechanism to be adjusted in such a manner that both valves will be opened simultaneously by the keys C, the push down pins Z), are made to pass through the levers D, and E, and furnished with screw threads to receive nuts k, Z, below the levers. The levers rest on these nuts and the nut Z, serves to adjust the lever E, to open the valve C simultaneously with O, and the nut 71;, serves to adjust the lever D to a proper relation with the key C The lower portions of the push down pins 6 are made of wood and the upper parts of wire, the upper part,

which is shown solid in the drawing, being received into the lower part which is shown partly in section. I do not claim the coupling and uncoupling of melodeon keys by means of an eccentric and pull lever, whereby the relative position of levers or other connections are changed. Neither do I claim the operating of two or more sets of reeds by one bank of keys. Neither do I claim the operating of two or more sets of reeds by one bank of keys, while, with the other bank, its reeds may also be separately operated. Neither do I claim extending back or elongating the lower keys, for the purpose of operating the coupling devices. Examples of all such features as are above disclaimed may be seen in the patents of H. Smith, June 12, 1855, and H. N. Goodman, June 28, 1853, and in other devices.

I distinctly disclaim every part and tea ture of my improvement, which is seen in any other melodeon or analogous instrument. But the combination of the adjustable extra levers E, with the push down pins (6 is a new combination, of great importance and value. It permits the construction of a coupling which is simpler, more durable. and otherwise superior to any other with which I am acquainted.

It will be seen that by the use of my coupler, the reeds are left free and clear, so that they can at all times be conveniently ap' proached for turning.

What I claim as new in melodeons, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

The combination of an extra, adjustable lever E, with each of the push down pins (7) in the manner substantially as described.

THOS. F. THORNTON. W'itnesses: Gruo. A. PRINCE, CHAS. E. BACON. 

